Detroit Lions say they're prepared for free agency - whenever

NEW ORLEANS -- While there is nothing absolutely concrete when it comes to the labor situation between the NFL owners and the players, it appears nothing significant will happen until after April 6. That's when a preliminary hearing is scheduled to determine whether the union can legally stop the NFL's lockout.

After the court rules on that case, the league's free-agency period could begin at any time. Based on other court rulings that are sure to follow, it could be a matter of days or it could be months -- if ever.

The Detroit Lions feel prepared for any scenario.

"We're as ready as we can be for any contingency that we can foresee at this point," Lions president Tom Lewand said Monday at the annual NFL owners' meeting. "We've been planning that way for a long time now. Whenever the rules dictate, we'll be ready to go. And whatever those (rules) are, we'll adjust."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said from the moment the regular season ended, the team's focus has been on free agency.

"It's been business as usual with our free agency (preparation). Most of those discussions have already occurred," Schwartz said. "We still don't know what the parameters are going to be, but that doesn't stop the evaluation -- evaluation of players is a 24/7/365 proposition. It doesn't change because of timetables and dates and things like that. So, we were ready regardless of what happened."

While the Lions would like to restock their roster with free agents at a couple of positions, they only have one significant player who is in free-agent limbo. Cornerback Chris Houston, who is a four-year veteran, is a restricted free agent but, if a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, he'll likely be unrestricted.

"We've put ourselves in a position where there are not a lot of moving parts for us," Lewand said. "There aren't a lot of gaps and that's what you've got to look at."

The owners will vote today on whether to change the league's kickoff rule. Under the new system, the ball will be teed up at the 35-yard line (instead of the 30) and a touchback will come out to the 25-yard line (instead of the 20). Also, players on the kickoff coverage unit will only be able to get a 5-yard running start (instead of 15).

The reason for the change is to protect players from high-speed collisions that result in injury. Detroit linebacker Zack Follett was seriously hurt on a kickoff coverage play last season.

"We're conscious of player safety and certainly advocates of player safety and a well-reasoned discussion of these rules proposals are appropriate in light of player safety," Lewand said. "We like the rules the way they are. They're understood. I also understand the competition committee's perspective. And we'll give it a fair hearing, but I don't lean one way or the other."

Schwartz said he didn't want to discuss the rule change until after the voting.

Schwartz acknowledged that the NFC North is full of solid return men like Detroit's Stefan Logan, Chicago's Devin Hester and Minnesota's Percy Harvin, but said that's not the reason to vote one way or the other.

Because neither owner William Clay Ford nor vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. are at the owners' meetings, Lewand represents the Lions in the voting. Ford hasn't attended the owners meetings in decades and Ford Jr., because of commitments to the car company, makes about half of the meetings.